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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Kashaful Aqaid (کشاف العقاید) [english] Babul Abwab Belief is directly related to aql (intellect) and all the processes of belief are done through aql. From books you can only learn about the details of belief and obtain a brief idea of what belief is. You cannot gain full knowledge of what is belief from books alone. You have to think deeply about what is being said in the books, and then you will be able to obtain full belief.

Books are dependent upon the level of intellect and understanding of the reader. It is worthy to note that one cannot gain aql (intellect) from knowledge but one can gain knowledge from aql. However, as long as one continues to gain knowledge then one’s intellect will also automatically increase. It is the same as if a machine is left unused. It will eventually become old and rusted. If you use it properly, then it will work with absolutely no problems.

This is the golden principle which should be adopted for beliefs. If it was meant for us to simply believe based upon what we read from a book or from what we hear others saying, then why did Allah swt give us intellect and reasoning as humans? Otherwise we would be the same as the animals and intellect would have no purpose of being in us. This is the common opinion about beliefs.

As far as the Shia religion is concerned, it has more responsibilities due to its historical background which is totally different than other sects in Islam. The Shia religion has had to face such difficulties in all times that one could not even tell others they are Shia nor could they spread Shia beliefs openly and freely. Centuries passed and this religion kept struggling for its survival behind the veil of taqqiya (hiding one’s true beliefs due to fear of death).

Such times came that even a father could not tell his children that they are Shia. The people who are born in present times have never had to face such difficulties and to them being a Shia seems so easy and simple. The present day shias have gravely misunderstood what is the true Shia Islam, and they think the religion they have today is the same as what Ahlul Bayt (as) taught ,while it is not.

Due to this misunderstanding, we totally forgotten and became careless about looking into the history of shia islam Therefore we do not realize what great difficulties and calamities the earlier shias had to face in order for us to be able to practice our religion with such ease.